Early Prisoner Releases Unmonitored Amid Serco Tagging Delays, MoJ Steps In

A number of inmates were freed ahead of schedule without electronic monitoring tags, with officials pointing fingers at Serco for the holdups. The Ministry of Justice attributes the backlog in fitting tags to the security firm Serco, which has been responsible for installing the devices since May 2024.

Political journalist @fayebrownSky

Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 3

The minister responsible for prisons has held discussions with executives from the security firm Serco due to setbacks in equipping certain offenders with electronic tags, according to sources at Sky News.

The Ministry of Justice acknowledged the setbacks following a BBC disclosure that some inmates released early through a government program were discharged from prison without tracking devices.

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The Ministry of Justice has pointed fingers at Serco for the issues following their acquisition of the government's tagging contract in May 2024.

The department stated that it is making the company responsible and is currently prioritizing tags for domestic abuse offenders as the situation continues.

A representative from the Ministry of Justice stated: "The use of electronic tags is a key component of our approach to protect victims and reduce repeat offenses, with more offenders than ever before now being monitored through this method."

"We are ensuring Serco addresses the delays in equipping certain offenders with electronic tags, and we'll impose financial sanctions on the company if the issue isn't resolved promptly.

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"As we continue to address this matter, we have made it a priority to monitor individuals convicted of domestic abuse through electronic tagging to ensure they adhere closely to the terms of their release, including avoiding any contact with their victims."

The reasons behind the hold-ups remain uncertain. A source from the government refuted claims of a tag shortage.

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Sources indicate that James Timpson, the Minister for Prisons, held a meeting with executives from Serco last Thursday to address the issue.

In England and Wales, electronic tags are employed to oversee adherence to curfews and other stipulations mandated by court or prison orders.

Last week, approximately 1,700 inmates were released ahead of schedule as part of a governmental initiative aimed at reducing prison overcrowding.

The contentious proposal has raised alarms about community safety and the possibility of inmates committing new offenses.

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Government officials have accused the Conservative Party of inheriting a system that was close to failing, arguing that inaction would paralyze the judicial process and prevent the police from detaining suspects.

Officials indicated that the program will exclude sexual crimes, severe violent acts, terrorism-related offenses, and certain domestic violence cases. Those who are granted early release will be under stringent supervision, including electronic monitoring and enforced curfews, managed by the Probation Service.

Stay informed on the most recent developments in the UK and globally by tuning into Sky News.

Serco explained that the process of attaching a tag may be delayed if the individual is not present at their residence.

The representative stated: "Since assuming control of the electronic monitoring contract in May, we've been diligently working to decrease the queue of individuals awaiting tag installation.

"We collaborate directly with the Ministry of Justice and probation services to quickly install monitoring tags and prioritize cases according to their risk levels."

"If a person is not present during our initial visit to install a tag, the process may require additional time. We make it a priority to schedule a follow-up visit promptly to ensure the tag is fitted at the earliest opportunity."

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